The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) stands in full solidarity with members of the Iranian community across Canada who gathered peacefully in Ottawa on September 22 to highlight the prolonged processing of permanent residency (PR) applications, particularly the lengthy pauses during background checks, and to call for immediate reforms.

The ICC is deeply concerned about the increasingly difficult path to permanent residency faced by Iranians in Canada. What should be a fair and efficient immigration process has, in recent years, become one of the most pressing challenges for Iranian applicants.

Many who first arrived on study or work permits now face extraordinarily long and complex procedures when applying for PR. Too often, applications remain stalled for months—or even years—at the background check stage without any clear response from immigration authorities.

These prolonged delays impose serious psychological and financial hardship. Students are left in limbo regarding their academic and professional futures, while temporary workers are deprived of job security and the ability to plan long term. The burden is worsened by high processing costs, the need for legal counsel, and banking restrictions linked to international sanctions.

Constant changes in Canada’s immigration regulations and the lack of transparent communication have only deepened confusion and uncertainty. Many Iranian applicants are left feeling unstable, with some even considering migration to third countries or seeking alternative, faster routes to obtain permanent residency.

In light of these challenges, the ICC calls on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to act with justice, fairness, and transparency by:

• Providing clear timelines and regular updates for applicants stuck in prolonged background checks;
• Simplifying and streamlining permanent residency procedures for those already contributing to Canadian society;
• Ensuring that policy changes are communicated openly and in a timely manner to all applicants.

The ICC urges the Government of Canada to respond swiftly and uphold the principles of justice and transparency that Canadians expect and deserve.

Join the email campaign to support Iranian PR Applicants: https://iccongress.good.do/justicetransparencyintheprocessingofprapplicationsforiraniansincanada/

Iranian Canadian Congress expresses its deep concern over the detention of peace and human rights activists aboard the “The Conscience” ship by the Israeli Forces. The seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the ICJ’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

“The Conscience” ship carried activists from various countries whose goal was to draw the world’s attention to the ongoing and unlawful blockade of Gaza Strip and to call for an end to the transfer of weapons and military support to the State of Israel. Their detention is both legally indefensible and politically alarming. It represents an attempt to silence the global voices of conscience calling for peace, justice, and respect for human dignity.

Iranian Canadian Congress calls for:
1.The immediate and unconditional release of all detainees aboard “The Conscience” ship including 6 Canadian passport holders: Mskwaasin Agnew (ON), Sadie Mees (NL), Nikita Stapleton (NL), Nima Machouf (QC), Devoney Ellis (NL) & Khurram Musti Khan (ON)
2.Full respect for international law and the right to peaceful activism;
3.An immediate halt to the transfer and sale of weapons to Israel, which fuels ongoing occupation and violence;
4.Strong international pressure to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and guarantee civilians’ access to humanitarian aid.

We urge governments, international bodies, human rights organizations, and global civil society to fulfill their moral and political responsibilities by defending the fundamental rights of the detainees and the Palestinian people.

The voice of justice and freedom cannot be silenced.

Public Statement from the Iranian Canadian Congress

Honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2025

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) stands in solemn recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Today, we honor the memory of the children who never returned home from Canada’s residential schools, as well as the Survivors, their families, and the communities who continue to carry the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system and the broader legacy of colonial policies.

As Iranian Canadians, many of us came to this country as immigrants, refugees, and newcomers seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity. We acknowledge that our lives and futures here are made possible by the lands and waters of Indigenous Nations whose sovereignty has never been ceded. With this recognition comes a responsibility to learn the truths of Canada’s history, to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, and to support reconciliation in both word and action.

The ICC reaffirms its commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices, stories, and leadership. We seek to build solidarity by fostering respectful relationships between the Iranian Canadian community and Indigenous Nations based on dialogue, respect, and mutual care.

We call on all members of our community to take time today to reflect, listen, and learn. Wearing orange, attending community events, engaging in ceremonies, and educating ourselves and our families are meaningful steps toward solidarity and justice.

Truth and reconciliation is not confined to a single day, but is an ongoing responsibility. The Iranian Canadian Congress commits to carrying this responsibility forward through our advocacy, community work, and shared future in Canada.

We Support the Canadian Boat for Gaza

International popular initiative against genocide in Palestine

Our organization expresses its deep admiration and unwavering support for our fellow Canadians taking part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition..

The purpose of these courageous civilians international initiative is to draw attention to the ongoing genocide in Palestine and symbolically break the deadly blockade and famine imposed on Gaza by Israel, with the silent complicity of many governments.

More than 50 vessels, bringing together NGO members, elected officials, doctors, artists, and well-known personalities (including climate activist Greta Thunberg  taking part in Sumud Flotilla ) from 40 countries, are currently sailing across the Mediterranean Sea toward Gaza. Their mission is to deliver food and medical supplies in response to the inaction, and even complicity, of our governments in the face of these crimes.

This unprecedented international mobilization sends a clear message: “Since our governments are failing in their duty, we, people of conscience, will mobilize for human dignity.”

Yet, as we write, three drones have already attacked the flotilla, notably off the coast of Tunisia. These cowardly acts, which endanger the lives of humanitarian workers, must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. As the lives of our fellow Canadians could be in Danger right now, we urge our government pressure Israel to respect international laws and refrain from attacking another flotilla.

Canada has finaly recognized Palestine as a sovereign state this week. Our government must, now protect its citizens of conscience who are participating in this action. Defending the Palestinian people is the responsibility of our elected governments — not of ordinary citizens who are forced to risk their lives to uphold international law.

We therefore call on communities, civil society organizations, and Canadian elected officials to:

• Publicly condemn the attacks against the Sumud flotilla;
• Demand concrete action from the Canadian government to ensure the safety of its citizens involved;
• End complicity with the illegal blockade causing genocide and famine in Gaza and with Israel’s impunity.

At this crucial moment where Francesca Albanese has estimated the casualties of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians to 680 000, our solidarity and vigilance are more necessary than ever. The courage of the Canadian Boat to Gaza part of the FFC  is a call to action we must heed.

Here is a joint letter from 70 Iranian Canadian and Civil Society Organizations to the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defense urging them to change course before it is too late.

Statement in Response to the latest U.S Aggression Against Iran

Iranian Canadian Congress condemns in the strongest terms the attacks last night by the United States on Iranian soil, which recklessly ran the risk of untold harm to Iran’s population with nuclear fallout by bombing civilian nuclear infrastructure sites.  

In a deeply concerning break from reality, U.S. President Donald Trump followed his announcement of the attacks—which came after over a week of unprovoked Israeli attacks which killed hundreds of civilians—that “now is the time for peace”. We ask ourselves how a president who has campaigned on the promise not to involve the United States in further wars, justifies Israel’s bombing while Iran was at the negotiating table with the U.S., follows with another egregious and unlawful attack, and expects Iran to complacently submit to this state of affairs.

We are deeply dismayed that Prime Minister Mark Carney, who campaigned on a platform of standing up to U.S. bullying, now kowtows to the position taken by the U.S. and Israel, that in contravention to the U.N. charter, launders a war of aggression initiated by Israel and backed by the United States. We are also horrified at opposition leader Pierre Poilievre’s statement calling Iran’s government a “genocidal regime” while Israel continues its relentless attacks on Gaza, Iran, and other neighbouring countries. Poilievre’s statement flies in the face of the findings of the International Court of Justice, recognized by broad swathes of the Canadian and International Community, that Israel is committing genocide.

We strongly urge Mark Carney’s government to show some backbone, listen to Canadian citizens’ calls to not involve our country in U.S. and Israeli aggression, and act in accordance with Canadian and International law to avert further escalation of war.

Tomorrow night CFPI will be co-hosting “Anti-war webinar: Canada Must Oppose Israel's Attacks on Iran!" Register for the event with author Craig Mokhiber, Iranian Canadian Congress president Mona Ghassemi and member Nassim Noroozi as well as author Yves Engler and lawyer Dimitri Lascaris.

"Hands off Iran" protests are planned in multiple cities across the country this weekend against Canadian support for Israel’s aggression. Join marches organized by the Iranian community, anti-war groups and unions.

Please take a minute to tell Carney to invest in Canadians’ well-being not the war machine.

Also use this link to tell your MP and Senate member to oppose the war against Iran. 

Join Iranian Canadian Congress to condemn the Israeli attacks on Iranian people, particularly the targeting of civilian residential areas, energy and other civilian infrastructure and facilities. These attacks have so far killed and wounded hundreds of innocent Iranians. 
 
Such actions are a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter. As a responsible and peaceful nation, Canada must not remain silent in the face of these clear violations of international law. Our government must stand for diplomacy, respect for international law, and the protection of civilian lives. 

The Iranian Canadian Congress calls on the Canadian Government to: 
 
- Publicly condemn these attacks; 
 
- Call for an immediate cessation of hostilities; 
 
- Engage diplomatically through G7 and other international and multilateral institutions to de-escalate the conflict and promote peace in the region. 

By clicking on this link and giving your address, you can easily send the prepared letter to your MP and Senate member. 

Canada Must Oppose Israeli Attacks on the People of Iran | Canada Must Oppose Israeli Attacks on the People of Iran

Iranian Canadian Congress is devastated to hear the news of Israel’s latest attack against Iran. Among the targets were residential buildings, and the victims included children. Our hearts go out to our compatriots in Iran. We are sure so many in the diaspora, like us, frantically reached out to family as soon as they heard the news, to assure their safety.

As an organization whose mandate includes “advocating  peace, dialogue, and collaboration between Canada and other nations”, ICC has consistently called attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and called upon our Canadian government to broker a just and lasting peace in the region. We have always been keenly aware of the possibility that military actions would expand into Iran, and while it came close to that on several occasions, today we fear that the escalations have brought us to the tipping point.

With war looming, we are also concerned regarding the current state of Canada-Iran relations. In the context of recent travel bans imposed by U.S. President Trump that include Iran, the lack of Iranian consular services in Canada is a grave concern, as so many of us would do everything in our power to bring our relatives to safety, especially given that until recently Iranian-Canadians had to make use of the Iranian office in the Pakistani Embassy in the U.S. to meet their consular needs.

We therefore urge our Canadian politicians more urgently than ever, to expedite the re-establishment of consular services, to act as an arbitrator to ceasefire in West Asia, and to extend a helping hand to support those affected by war.

Call for Submissions: Celebrate Persian Language and Culture

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) Cultural Committee invites the Canadian community to take part in a unique celebration of Iranian culture. This special event honours non-Iranians who speak Farsi and can express themselves through the beauty of the language.

We welcome non-Iranians to submit a video of themselves performing a short piece—in verse, prose, or song—in Farsi.
Submissions should be sent to: [email protected]
All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation, and two outstanding performers will be awarded special prizes.
Please share this opportunity and encourage eligible friends to take part in this celebration of language and cultural connection.
Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025

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